How old are democracies across the world?

Re:How old are democracies across the world? by marginalia_nu on Thursday February 24, 2022 @05:03PM (#30460913)

You needed to be a male citizen landowner. But part in this is because eligibility to vote was eligibility to be assigned political office. Voting wasn't just a right, it potentially came with duties as well.

It's not that illogical to exclude slaves because a slave in office gives their masters influence over an official, exclude people without land because they were susceptible to bribery, and exclude women who could get pregnant.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:How old are democracies across the world? by watwut on Friday February 25, 2022 @05:28AM (#30465730)

Aristocracy with no election at all is not _that_ illogical either. But, it takes some seriously twists to call it democracy.

> exclude people without land because they were susceptible to bribery

This however means, Athens dont put other democracies in shame at all.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:How old are democracies across the world? by marginalia_nu on Friday February 25, 2022 @07:08AM (#30466399)

Why is universal suffrage necessary for democracy?

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:How old are democracies across the world? by groby_b on Sunday February 27, 2022 @09:17PM (#30495495)

Because otherwise you decide that segments of the population shouldn't be heard. Democracy is literally "government by the people" - anything but universal suffrage means you consider some part of the population not people.

[ Parent | on HN ]